US burger chain Carl’s Jr announces India entry, first restaurant in Delhi

NEW DELHI: US burger chain Carl’s Jr will launch its first restaurant in India at Select Citywalk mall in Delhi on August 8, the company said on Wednesday.

The California-based chain will be the third burger brand to foray into India in recent months -- the other two being Burger King and Wendy's.

Carl’s Jr will introduce a customised menu to suit local tastes along with beer on tap and a soft beverages bar, the company statement said.

The brand is being brought to India by Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants, owned by Gurgaon-based Cybiz Corp, through a master franchise agreement with CKE Restaurants Holdings, which is the parent company of Carl’s Jr.

“Carl’s Jr is a mix of casual dining ambience, gourmet food quality and QSR speed of service,” Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants’ executive director, Sana Chopra, said in a statement.

The chain expects to launch about hundred stores in the country over the next 10 years.

CybizCorp had said earlier this month that it plans to raise about $20 million, or close to Rs 125 crore, in tranches to scale up presence in the high-potential eating out market in the country.

This amount will be in addition to the $2 million (Rs 12.5 crore) that CybizCorp has already raised from private equity investors such as Delhi-based Now Foods, which also has equity in franchisees of Boombox Café, Cafe OTB and Elara Capital.